CoolSculpting at Home: Why This is a Horrible Idea

First there was the Kylie Jenner lip plumping challenge, that saw many millennials attempting to add volume to their lips themselves.

More recently, individuals have been trying to replicate CoolSculpting’s fat freezing effects on their own, with ice and other frozen products.

Not only does this not work, it can also cause significant adverse outcomes.

Here’s why CoolSculpting at home is a bad idea.

What Happens During a CoolSculpting Treatment?

CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved body contouring treatment that freezes and destroys localized fat pockets in the abdomen, flanks, hips, thighs, arms, chest, back, and chin.

Following a thorough consultation, the procedure should be performed by a certified provider in a dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office.

He or she will carefully select the appropriate CoolSculpting applicator, which vacuums and precisely cools pinchable areas of fat.

This process causes cryolipolysis and results in the permanent elimination of unwanted fat cells from the treatment area. It also occurs without causing any harm to the skin or surrounding structures.

Why Is CoolSculpting at Home a Bad Idea?

In order to gain FDA-approval in 2010, CoolSculpting’s safety and efficacy underwent rigorous clinical testing.

That being said, in an effort to save money, some individuals have tried to perform CoolSculpting at home using ice and other frozen products. This is not a good idea for several reasons.

To start, CoolSculpting uses very specific temperatures (around 39°F/4°C) and rates of cooling to freeze fat cells and cause them breakdown and die. This cannot be replicated with ice or other freezing methods, rendering DIY fat freezing ineffective.

Additionally, a professional CoolSculpting treatment is designed to deliver cooling directly to fat cells, avoiding adverse effects to the skin and surrounding structures.

Comparatively, CoolSculpting at home may only freeze tissue and can cause severe health consequences, including frostbite, numbness, pain, permanent tissue damage. This damage may even warrant medical treatments to repair tissue damage.

How to Safely and Effectively Freeze Fat

In the hands of qualified provider, CoolSculpting can safely eliminate up to 25 percent of fat in the treatment area.

However, in order to achieve these outcomes, women and men should leave fat freezing to medical professionals at a CoolSculpting certified practice like Cultura.

All of our CoolSculpting practitioners are trained and certified by CoolSculpting, and we use the latest CoolSculpting technology, including the CoolAdvantage Applicator, to perform treatments.

To schedule a comprehensive CoolSculpting consultation in Washington DC, please call our office today or fill out our contact form.

Dr. Eliot Battle

CEO & Founder at Cultura Dermatology & Plastic Surgery

Dr. Eliot Battle, CEO of Cultura Dermatology, is a global leader in cosmetic dermatology and laser innovation. His Harvard research pioneered “color-blind” lasers, making treatments safe for all skin tones. A sought-after expert featured in TIME, Oprah, and The New York Times, he continues to advance inclusive, cutting-edge dermatological care.